§ 3.21 p.m.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are in a position to report on the progress made in the reorganisation of the White Fish Authority and the Herring Board; and whether they are aware that the uncertainty about the future might damage the excellent and outstanding work of the White Fish Authority to the detriment of the fishing industry as a whole.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, the previous Conservative Government foresaw in 1972 that the administration of the fishing industry would need to adjust to 813 changing circumstances, but they decided that the White Fish Authority and Herring Industry Board should continue under existing law for a further period provisionally set at five years. In view of this outstanding commitment, and in recognition of the need to relieve uncertainty about the future of the two authorities we are consulting with the bodies concerned and with the industry.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, I should like to thank the Minister very much for his sympathetic answer. I think that what he has said will reassure the interests that I am trying to represent here today, those of the very skilled scientific set-up wishing to know what their future will be.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, having represented a fishing port for very many years and being very " pro " the White Fish Authority, may I ask the noble Lord how the various fishing ports themselves have reacted to the proposals? Would the noble Lord bear in mind that I should hate anything to be done which would upset the fishing ports, which have very good remembrances of the old White Fish Authority?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, we shall certainly take note of what the noble Baroness has said. It is a little premature to say what will he the outcome of these consultations, but I can say that a document will be published in the autumn.